the way I work is that when I have block on a novel, I write a short story. With romances, this grew to Belles and Bucks over 2 years, and I will doubtless do more romances for a second volume. Murder and Muslin will be the same, I'll add odd stories as I go along, and build up to a book's worth. I just got sidetracked to Cobra and his dark future world when I was working through hating all doctors for being pill pushers. It sort of made sense ...
I also intend to write a couple of novellas about some side plots which were happening in the Jane and Caleb I just completed [and will be posting soon]
